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Player grades: Edmonton Oilers big guns McDavid, Draisaitl and Puljujarvi shoot down Winnipeg Jets – Edmonton Journal

Published

4 years ago

February 18, 2021

Harry Miller

Author of the article:

David Staples • Edmonton Journal

Publishing date:

Feb 18, 2021 • 8 hours ago • 6 minute read

Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid (97) passes past Winnipeg Jets’ Neal Pionk (4) during first period NHL action at Rogers Place in Edmonton Photo by Ian Kucerak /Postmedia

Huge win for the Edmonton Oilers in a hard-fought battle. Edmonton slowly tightened the defensive screws against the Winnipeg Jets and choked out a win, 3-2.

In winning, the Oilers did what they have failed to so often this year, which is shut down an opposing team once Edmonton has the lead in the third. But Edmonton allowed just one Grade A chance for the Jets in the final 15 minutes.

Edmonton limited the Jets to just eight Grade A chances, while getting 13 of their own (running count).

Connor McDavid, 8. He made major contributions to Grade A chances, eight of them on the power play. Also had yet another solid defensive game, the kind that should propel him to the Hart Trophy this year. Deft pass to Puljujarvi on the first goal, as he sent the big Finn in one a breakaway. In the second, he charged up ice on the power play, put it on net, with RNH almost drilling in the rebound. His fast-as-a-falcon read and pass to RNH in the low slot kicked off the Draisaitl power play scoring sequence late in the second. He launched a rifle shot one-timer in the third, then set up Draisaitl for a second rifle shot off the post.

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Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, 7. He and Jujhar Khaira allowed a cross-seam one-timer to Mathieu Perreault on the penalty kill in the first, but Mike Smith made the save. One Jets power play later he allowed another cross-seam, and this time Mark Scheifele scored. He made a sharp defensive block to end a threatening Jets 3-on-2 early in the second. Fantastic feed to set up Khaira on the PK in the crease. Then he got a quick one-timer of his own on the power play, with Draisaitl hammering home the rebound. He took a smart penalty to start the third, hooking Adam Lowery and stopping him from scoring on a short-handed breakaway.

Jesse Puljujarvi, 7. A good game, another one. He’s looking like the real deal, a true Top 6 NHL winger. Snapped home the game’s first goal, looking like the sniper that McDavid needs on the top line. Four goals in six games on the top line adds to that notion. He followed up with hustle defensive zone play, thwarting a scoring chance shot with a stick check.

Leon Draisaitl, 8. He was the best Oiler on the ice. He came out ready to play, blasting a Jets attacker into the boards on his first shift. One shift later he powered up the ice like the Great Bull of Heaven and sniped a beauty goal. Kept up his hustle and was rewarded with a happy rebound on the power play late in the second, which he roofed, putting it top shelf where momma keeps the cookies. Almost got his third of the game when he ripped a one-timer off the post early in the third. He made a stretch pass in the third that led to a dangerous Oilers chance.

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Tyler Ennis, 6. Fine cross-ice chip shot pass to send in Draisaitl on the second Oilers goal of the game. He got wiped out by a nasty but completely legal Neal Pionk hip check in the first. But he and Gaetan Haas got mixed up and no one covered Neal Pionk’s point blast, Winnipeg’s second goal. I blamed Ennis more than Haas on that one.

Kailer Yamamoto, 7. After a slump, the old Yamamoto is back. All kinds of good things happened when he was on the ice. He had a smash-mouth clearance on the PK in the first, bashing a Jet into the boards, puck protecting then clearing the puck. He torpedoed his way in on the forecheck to win the puck on the penalty kill early in the third and almost scored on a backhander.

Dominik Kahun, 5. Hustling hard, he drew a tripping penalty in the second. Almost tipped in a goal off a Yamamoto feed and Draisaitl stretch late in the third.

Jujhar Khaira, 5. Did some good work on the PK. Almost scored on a shortie crease shot in the second. He failed to execute a key clearance late in the third.

Josh Archibald, 5. Hustled hard, as always, but had little impact on the game, either for good or for ill.

Alex Chiasson, 5. He doesn’t hurt you out there, though he also doesn’t make huge positive waves most games. A small play, but the kind a team needs when he smartly and effectively covered for a failed Evan Bouchard pinch in the first.

Gaetan Haas, 4. He skated hard but did not always have great results. His timing looked off a bit. He made a sharp spin move in his own zone early in the first period to advance the puck out. Was part of the problem on Winnipeg’s second goal, as he and Tyler Ennis failed to cover off Pionk’s point shot.

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Kyle Turris, 4. Quiet game in just 7:39 of ice time.

Adam Larsson, 7. He played some heavy hockey, and also effective hockey. Many fans were worried when he and fellow iffy puck-mover Kris Russell were teamed up for the game, and sure enough on their first shift they had trouble advancing the puck. Winnipeg’s first goal was on him somewhat as he both screened Mike Smith and the puck deflected in off his skate. But Larsson and Russell got strong as the game went on, shutting down fast Jets. He levelled Scheifele with a hit late in the game. He followed up a moment later drilling Blake Wheeler to the ice. He led the Oilers with five hits.

Kris Russell, 6. More good than bad. Shut up his many critics for a moment with a sharp outlet pass to kick off the Draisaitl scoring sequence in the first. He took an over-aggressive boarding penalty in the second. He got that one back when he was hauled down late in the second. He made a showtime Magic Johnson-to-James Worthy alley oop pass to send in Yamamoto on a break in the third, but Yamamoto fanned on the shot. Coach Tippett trusted him to stop the Jets on numerous shifts late in the game and Russell got the job done.

Tyson Barrie, 6. He screened goalie Mike Smith on the second Winnipeg goal, Neal Pionk’s high slot blast. But munched the heavy minutes and munched them generally fine.

Darnell Nurse, 6. A steady and effective one for Nurse. A few iffy moment on defence kept his mark from being higher, but those moments were the exception not the rule.

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Evan Bouchard, 5. A quiet game. He made a solid defensive stop on Mason Appleton in the third, winning the puck after a hard battle and helping to advance it out. He failed to clear the puck out of the Oilers zone late in the third, leading to a scary moment with Pionk teeing up a shot.

Slater Koekkoek, 5. He allowed a dangerous pass into the slot on the PK early in the third, with Winnipeg’s Perreault almost scoring. Other than that, had a quiet game as well, which is good for a third-pairing d-man.

Mike Smith, 8. He made a swell clearance to start off the sequence of joy culminating in Edmonton’s first goal. He also saved the first few dangerous shots on net, a nice change from Monday night’s game when he let the only four Grade A shots he faced. He made a stupendous save off a point blank Perreault shot on a Winnipeg power play early in the third. That was his best moment in the game, and a crucial one. Looking super solid in the net just now.

At the Cult of Hockey

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McCURDY: Player grades — Oilers score 5 on Vezina Trophy winner but still find a way to lose

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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